Naiyobi is a remote rural village in Ngorongoro district, Arusha region northern Tanzania. Its villagers are largely Maasai pastoralists. Naiyobi’s community is made up of individuals who will not allow their tough geographical terrain to prevent them from saving the lives of the their mothers and infants.
Naiyobi is a remote rural village in Ngorongoro district, Arusha region northern Tanzania. Its villagers are largely Maasai pastoralists. Just as with any other community, life-threatening pregnancy complications occur suddenly and unexpectedly. Sometimes only timely access to good medical care can save lives. But with remote villages like Naiyobi access to such timely care seems impossible.Transport to this village is challenging, it is surrounded by mountain terrains and valleys within the East African Rift Valley in the famous Ngorongoro Conservation Area. But Naiyobi’s community is made up of individuals who will not allow their tough geographical terrain to prevent them from saving the lives of the their mothers and infants.Karaang Olekoko, Nayobi Village leader says:“If the nearest health facility was many kilometres away of bad roads, you would do what is within your power to ensure that health services come to you too,” “In some of our worst experiences here we have had to carry patients using make-shift stretchers to a place where transport can be found. Then if lucky and it is not a rainy season, many kilometres more would get you to Karatu District hospital (120 km away) Waso Designated District Hospital, Loliondo (105 km) away or Monduli District Hospital (250km away).“For an expecting mother, the chance(s) are higher that she may lose her life, that of the baby or both.”These were chances that the community was not willing to take.Solution within reachThen Nayobi community members learned that some neighbouring villages in this vast Arusha Region, were receiving bi-weekly visits from the Flying Medical Services (FMS). Led by Chairperson Olekoko, they began to discuss the possibilities of building an airstrip and made a formal request to the health service provider as well.If they were to benefit from Flying Medical Services then they had to do the hard work of identifying a suitable location for an airstrip, and the hard graft of clearing and developing the airstrip. The airstrip would have to be built to a standard acceptable to the engineers and pilots of the FMS.Communal effortFather Pat Patten, founder of FMS provided the specifications for the airstrip and gave the community the go-ahead to clear and build the site. A tough assignment in the hot climate of the region. “Over 60 of us, men and women, worked to build this runway, taking turns to clear, dig and pave the area” says Olekoko. And while building the airstrip was hard work, it was just beginning because the airstrip has to be maintained continuously if planes are to be able to land.Young men in the village were given a special roster to ensure that the airstrip was properly developed and then maintained for the future. They do the heavy duty of digging, and filling potholes. Women bring them food and water as they work.All villagers are motivated to volunteer and help in any possible way they can, because of the hope and optimism of having medical help to ensure the survival of Nayobi’s mothers and babies.They have acted and taken responsibility for the lives of their mothers and babies. What can you do?